Akhil Reed Amar, professor of law and political science at Yale University and the author of The Law of the Land: A Grand Tour of our Constitutional Republic (Basic Books, 2015), looks at the way geography and history affect interpretation of the law and how the individual states have affected key Supreme Court rulings from civil rights to presidential politics.
U.S. court circuits are defined geographically -- the 2nd circuit is NY. Defining them geographically has huge implications, says Prof. Amar
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) May 7, 2015
Even though most of the current SC Justices are Republicans, they're Northern "Lincoln" Republicans, says Akhil Reed Amar @BrianLehrer
— WNYC (@WNYC) May 7, 2015
At the time Brown v. Board of Ed was decided, there was massive resistance from the conservative south. "Now, Brown is iconic." -Prof. Amar.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) May 7, 2015
"I'm in favor of direct election of the president," says Prof. Amar.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) May 7, 2015
One argument for that, says Prof. Amar, is that's how it's done in the states, & many ideas in the Constitution are first tested in states.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) May 7, 2015